MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 9: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball against Nick Roach #53 and Dom DeCicco #58 of the Chicago Bears during the fourth quarter of the game on December 9, 2012 at Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Bears 21-14. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

NFC

-- Packers tight end Jermichael Finley said he thought the Bears' defense might be better off with Brian Urlacher sidelined by a hamstring injury. Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs called Finley "an idiot." Maybe, but the idiot has a point - a slower Urlacher has been killing the Bears for the past month.

-- When then-Pittsburgh quarterback Brian Hoyer got the call from Phoenix saying the Cardinals were claiming him off waivers, he let it go to voice mail because he didn't know anyone in that city.

-- After sacking Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sunday, Buccaneers defensive end Michael Bennett got up and did a hula dance. Yes, he would like your vote for the Pro Bowl.

-- I had a great "Six Million Dollar Man" action figure when I was a kid. Wore that sucker out. Hope the Redskins are only bluffing with reports that Robert Griffin III might play Sunday with a sprained knee. They were lucky it wasn't worse after the big hit he took Sunday. Put the amazing toy on the shelf for a week, Mike Shanahan.

-- Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, above, is averaging 3.9 yards per carry aftercontact this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Oakland's Darren McFadden is averaging 3.4 before, during and after contact.

-- Marshawn Lynch is not giving reporters much on his return to Buffalo this weekend. "I'm good, boss," Lynch told the Tacoma News Tribune. The Seahawks are giddy - they gave up only two mid-round picks (a 2011 fourth-rounder and a 2012 fifth) for 3,000 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns in 40 games.

-- Vikings punter Chris Kluwe was fined $5,250 for writing "Vote Ray Guy" over the 50th anniversary Hall of Fame patch on his jersey Sunday. "My favorite part of the fine e-mail from the NFL," Kluwe tweeted, "they end it with 'Sincerely.' It's the little touches that let you know they care."

AFC

-- Jaguars QB Chad Henne told reporters, "There's definitely going to be emotions" in his return to Miami. He's right. Dolphins fans will be crying when they remember that in 2008, Miami passed on Matt Ryan first overall, took left tackle Jake Long and then Henne in Round 2. Henne is 13-18 as a starter, Ryan 54-21.

-- The Steelers should be OK against the Cowboys (7-6) on Sunday. Dallas has a winning record - Pittsburgh has beaten the Ravens (9-4), Bengals (8-6), Giants (8-5) and Redskins (7-6) but lost to the Browns (5-8), Titans (4-9), Chargers (5-8) and Raiders (3-10). "When we're playing great teams like the Giants, we're fired up," Steelers cornerback Keenan Lewis told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

-- Houston, meanwhile, might be 11-2, but critics are having a field day with Monday's 42-14 loss at New England. Some even point out that QB Matt Schaub has not played well in any of the Texans' five nationally televised games this season.

-- The Colts are 9-4. At this time last year, they were 0-13. In a related note, Andrew Luck's six game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime are the most by a rookie since the 1970 merger.

-- Cleveland rookies have made 72 starts, most in the NFL. Indianapolis is second with 44.

-- Tom Brady is providing the Patriots with easy touchdown passes, thanks to play-action plays and mind control. "I think, in my mind, you think of it as a running play, and then you pull the ball out at the last minute. That's what everyone has to think," Brady told the Boston Herald. "If it doesn't look like a run, they're not going to buy it."

-- Denver has a plus-71 point scoring differential in the fourth quarter. Which means Baltimore might be in trouble - it has blown fourth-quarter leads the past two weeks.